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Biological Science Technician (Plants)

Department of Agriculture
Forest Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

These positions are located in Region 9. Several positions will be filled from this announcement, multiple duty locations available.

Serves as a technical assistant responsible for the collection, organization, and analysis of data for botanical species and plant habitats.

For additional information about locations and contact information for the position, please refer to the "How You Will Be Evaluated" section.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
04/19/2022 to 04/25/2022
This job will close when we have received 100 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Salary
$40,262 to - $40,262 per year

Salary wage as shown is for Rest of the U.S. For more information, refer to the Office of Personnel Management, Salary and Wages web page.

Pay scale & grade
GS 6
Locations
Many vacancies in the following locations:
Wilmington, IL
Tell City, IN
Marienville, PA
Manchester, VT
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position to attend meetings and site visits
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time - or permanent seasonal 18/8 based on location.
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
7
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
22-R9GVMAR-0404-899584DP-JW
Control number
649343700

Duties

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  • Conduct a variety of field studies of native and non-native botanical species and their habitats.
  • Collect survey and inventory data to determine species identity, population characteristics, environmental conditions, and factors affecting the vigor and extent of the species and their habitat.
  • Keep records of all data and produces maps of survey areas.
  • Improve, adapt, and develop techniques, methods, and equipment based on experience, practical knowledge, and prescribed procedures.
  • Determine need and recommend equipment requirements for botanical projects and assures equipment is operational and available when needed.
  • Compile and summarize the data obtained from surveys, inventories, biological evaluations, and monitoring.
  • Use computer systems and associated software for recording, organizing, storing, and analyzing data. Provide detailed reports on work methods, data collected, and project monitoring.
  • Evaluate data and make recommendations for improvement of habitat. Provide data to resource specialist after checking for discrepancies and inconsistencies.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service or exempt.
  • Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
  • Successful completion of one-year probationary period, unless previously served.
  • Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
  • Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify.
  • At the GS5 level selectee will be required to obtain and show proof they possess a valid herbicide applicators license within 120 days from effective date of the position.

Qualifications

In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards.

Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary.

Basic Requirement: 0404

GS-6: One year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-5 in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to successfully perform the duties of this position. Examples of specialized experience are defined meeting one or more of the following: Performing field work for projects related to vegetation management and botany including taking measurements, recording observations, seeding or planting, and fertilizer or pesticide treatment; Organizing collections of seed and vegetative materials, assisting with conducting surveys for sensitive plants in project areas that included on-the-ground reconnaissance and record examination; Recording and compiling vegetation and botanical data for use in analysis and reporting. OR One full year (18 semester/27 quarter hours) of successfully completed graduate level coursework that is directly related to the work of the position botany, plant science, plant biology, horticulture, or general biology, environmental studies, environmental conservation, entomology, ecology disciplines with an emphasis on plants. OR combinations of graduate level education that is directly related to the position and specialized experience. The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP eligibles must meet the agency's definition for a quality candidate as provided in the How You Will Be Evaluated section of this announcement to be considered.

The USDA Forest Service has legislative authority to recruit and fill Permanent (Career/Career-Conditional), Temporary, and Term Appointments under the USDA Demonstration Project. Under this authority, any U.S. citizen may apply.

This position is being concurrently announced under Merit Promotion Announcement Number 22-R9GVMAR-0404-899584G-JW. Current or former Federal employees or other eligible applicants may apply to both announcements to expand all possibilities of consideration since different referral criteria apply to each type of announcement. See the above announcement for more information.

If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is not guaranteed.

This announcement may be used to fill Full Time positions and seasonal work schedules where full-time work is guaranteed for 18 pay periods and when not working, you will be placed in non-pay/non-duty status.

This position may be eligible to telework up to four days per week, based upon the duties of the position. This position may also be eligible for flexible work arrangements as determined by agency policy and any applicable collective bargaining agreements.

The Forest Service may use certain incentives and hiring flexibilities, currently offered by the Federal government, to attract highly qualified candidates. Additional information is available at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/pay-and-leave-flexibilities-for-recruitment-and-retention/

Positions filled from this announcement may be a bargaining or a non-bargaining unit position represented by either NFFE, AFGE or NAGE.

Forest Service daycare/Government housing not available.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Location specific information:
Wilmington IL:
Supervisor - Michael Redmer, michael.redmer@usda.gov
Work Schedule - Full Time
Grade levels to be filled - 5/6/7
At the GS5 level selectee will be required to obtain and show proof they possess a valid herbicide applicators license within 120 days from effective date of the position.

Tell City, IN:
Supervisor - Cheryl Coon, cheryl.coon@usda.gov
Work Schedule - Full Time
Grade levels to be filled - 6/7
Duties may also include applying herbicides using backpack sprayers or other equipment on a regular basis according to specific guidelines.

Marlinton, VA:
Supervisor - Amy Lovell, amy.lovell@usda.gov
Work Schedule - Full Time
Grade levels to be filled - 7
Duties may also include applying herbicides using backpack sprayers or other equipment on a regular basis according to specific guidelines.

Marienville PA:
Supervisor - Robert Fallon, robert.fallon@usda.gov
Work Schedule - 18/8
Grade levels to be filled - 6/7
Duties may also include applying herbicides using backpack sprayers or other equipment on a regular basis according to specific guidelines.

Mendon, Rochester, Manchester, VT:
Supervisor - John McCann, john.mccann@usda.gov
Work Schedule - Full time and 18/8
Grade levels to be filled - 7
Duties may also include applying herbicides using backpack sprayers or other equipment on a regular basis according to specific guidelines.

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications.

You will be evaluated in accordance with the category rating procedure as defined in the USDA Demonstration Project Plan. Applicants who meet the basic minimum qualification requirements established for the position will be placed in the Eligible category. You will be further evaluated against criteria for placement in the Quality category. This evaluation is based on the level of your experience, education, and/or training as determined by your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire. Individuals with veterans' preference are listed ahead of applicants who do not have veterans' preference within each category.

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may be found ineligible. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service.

To view the application form, visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11466363

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